Saffron rice
Saffron rice is a lightly fragranced pale yellow rice made using basmati infused with the delicate flavour of saffron. This easy stove top rice recipe can be prepared and cooked in a little over half an hour by following a few simple steps.
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon saffron
- 400 ml basmati rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 700 ml vegetable stock
- 100 ml water
Instructions
- Lightly crush the saffron threads between your fingers or use a pestle and mortar and place in a small bowl.
- Heat 100ml water until it is hand hot and pour over the saffron threads. This will help to bring out the flavour of the saffron. Cover and set aside until you are ready to add to the other ingredients.
- Finely chop the onion and garlic.
- Heat a dash of olive oil in a saucepan and gently cook the onion and garlic for a few minutes until soft.
- Add the rice and saffron, including the water that it had been soaking in, to the pan with the onion and garlic.
- Add 700ml vegetable stock to the pan and stir. Place the lid on the pan and gently bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes without removing stirring and without removing the lid.
- Remove from the heat after 20 minutes. Fluff up with a fork and your saffron rice is now ready to serve.
Notes
- Other ingredients can be added to the cooked saffron rice such as flaked almonds, pine nuts, raisins, pistachios or chopped dried apricots.
- A tiny pinch of turmeric could be added to the rice before cooking for a stronger coloured yellow rice.
- Remember to steep the saffron in water before cooking so that the colour and flavour permeate throughout the whole pan of rice
- The rice can be reheated in a microwave or in a covered heatproof bowl in the oven.
Nutrition
Calories: 739kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 12gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 23805mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
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